The touch bar is like an idea that works really well in your head. It has so many theoretical cool uses. But in reality I end up never using it for anything.. I would have been happy if the new one had the touch bar and the function keys, but that would have been extra cost for a feature people just aren't using.

After using a stream deck for some odd automation, I think the real flaw was having the touch bar be so contextual, and replacing the existing function keys. Had both existed, and and allowed the user to extend their customisation; say buttons for common actions, siri suggestions, shortcuts it may have been perceived differently, and more of power user tool.

Most of the actions just duplicated existing UI elements.

I think one thing that makes an external stream deck work, is that it is a separate context sensitive device, that is mentally separated from the keyboard.

So when you go to the deck to perform an action, you mentally context switch away from the keyboard, so your brain is looking for different clues.

So even with a touch bar + function keys, the function keys stay in keyboard context, but the touch bar requires that switch in any case. Maybe taking your eyes to the touch bar is enough of a context switch, mentally.

I liked the touch bar..

The problem was that it was too much of a tradeoff. Either a touch bar or function keys. I need function keys. The touch bar was useless for this purpose (no tactile feel).

Apple could easily have done both. There's more than enough space even on the 13" macbooks. It would have taken a bit of space from the vertical range of the touchpad but it's already comically large anyway.

It’s nice in theory for so many things (my favorite is choosing characters when typing in Japanese) but almost never overcomes the friction of using a third input device. I was somewhat of a proponent of it until I got a desktop, then I was happy to ditch it and have a consistent keyboard for desktop and laptop.

It might be but not really.

I carefully made sure I didn't mention the touch bar. I waited until 2022 to finally be able to buy a MBP without a touchbar (and with magsafe charger).

I would very much like a physical button with a reassuring tactile feeling to it. Like the mute button on the function keys row.

But then we're back at a software button, not an hw one.